Outcry over missile

STRONG MEASURES: UN THREATENS NORTH KOREA WITH SANCTIONS

United Nations

The United Nations (UN) Security Council has condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test and vowed strong measures, including sanctions, to derail Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. North Korea’s long-term bid to develop a credible nuclear attack threat to the US mainland saw it launch on Sunday what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet.

Pyongyang said the new weapon – the Hwasong-12 – was capable of carrying a “heavy nuclear warhead”.

In a statement backed by the North’s main ally, China, the Security Council on Monday vowed to punish Pyongyang’s “highly destabilising behaviour” and demanded a halt to any further nuclear or missile tests.

Pyongyang carried out two atomic tests last year and has accelerated its missile launch programme, despite tough UN sanctions aimed at denying leader Kim Jong-un the hard currency needed to fund his weapons ambitions.

“There’s a lot of sanctions left that we can start to do, whether it’s with oil, whether it’s with energy, whether it’s with their maritime ships, exports,” US ambassador Nikki Haley told ABC television.

The US is in talks with China – Pyongyang’s main trading partner – on a possible new sanctions resolution and the Security Council was expected to hold a closed-door emergency meeting yesterday.

Kim personally oversaw Sunday’s test, the Korea Central News Agency said.

The missile was launched on an unusually high trajectory, before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.

Analysts said the test suggested an actual range of 4 500km or more if flown for maximum distance. –